Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Michael G. Rourke, born 1866 in Northampton and his wife Annie Maria Rourke (nee Trueman, married in the 1st quarter of 1887 in the Leicester district), born 1868 in Leicester. Joseph was born in the 4th quarter of 1890 in Leicester, in March 1901 Joseph was absent from the family home at 64, Bassett Street, South Wigston, Leicestershire, residing there was his father, a shoe trade pressman, his mother and siblings Alfred William, a boot and shoe factory general helper, born in the 3rd quarter of 1887 and Lizzie, a biscuit packer, born 1889, the latter two siblings were both born in Leicester, Annie, born 1893, Bertie, born 1896 and Ernest, born in the 2nd quarter of 1899, the latter three siblings were all born in South Wigston, Joseph was residing at 40, Coral Street, Leicester, this being the family home of his Aunt, Priscilla Mawbey, a shoe trade machinist, born 1866 in Leicester and his Uncle, Joseph Mawbey, a shoe trade laster, born 1864 in Leicester. In April 1911 Joseph was employed as a shoe trade heel builder and was residing in the family home at 26, Bassett Street, South Wigston, together with his father, a shoe trade pressman, his mother and siblings, Alfred William, a shoe trade pressman, Bertie, a shoe trade skiver, Ernest, a schoolboy and Beatrice, a schoolgirl, born 1902 in South Wigston, also residing with the family was Joseph’s nephew, George Alfred Swanwick, born 1908 in Blaby, Leicestershire. Joseph married Emily Jayes in the 4th quarter of 1913 in the Blaby, Leicestershire district, they had the following children, Herbert Harold, born 3rd April 1915, Arthur Edward, born 7th April 1917 and Alfred Ernest, born 23rd November 1919.
Joseph had enlisted into the Leicestershire Regiment on the 1st November 1915 and was discharged from the Army on the 31st August 1916, the cause given being sickness, under K.R. 392 (xvi). He was awarded the Silver War Badge No. 144289. Joseph’s elder brother Alfred William died of wounds received in action in 1917 and his younger brother, Ernest was killed in action in 1918.